Good Habits (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series)

5

How Timeboxing Can Make You More Productive

By Marc Zao-Sanders

Years ago I read Daniel Markovitz’s piece “To-Do Lists Don’t Work” on migrating to-do lists into calendars. Since then, my productivity has at least doubled.

That momentous (at least for me) article describes five problems with the to-do list. First, they overwhelm us with too many choices. Second, we are naturally drawn to simpler tasks, which are more easily accomplished. Third, we are rarely drawn to important-but-not-urgent tasks, like setting aside time for learning. Fourth, to-do lists on their own lack the essential context of what time you have available. Fifth, they are missing a commitment device, to keep us honest.

This was enough for me. I converted from my religiously ...